Naxal attack: Tawde slams Pawar for demanding CM's resignation

Hours after Sharad Pawar slammed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the naxal attack in Gadchiroli, state Education Minister Vinod Tawde said the NCP chief was playing politics over the "national issues" and accused him of talking on the lines of ultras.

Pawar has sought resignation of Fadnvais, who also holds Home portfolio, on a day naxals triggered an IED blast that killed 15 policemen and a civilian in the east Maharashtra district.

"Instead of condemning the dastardly attack, Sharad Pawar is playing politics over national issues. He is talking on the lines of naxalites," Tawde said.

Recalling the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai, Tawde said nobody had demanded resignation of the then chief minister Pawar but rather stood by him.

"Pawar's resignation was sought later during an Assembly session. Today, such maturity is not there in politics.

"If Pawar is so concerned about resignation of Fadnavis, why didn't he demand similar action against the Chhattisgarh chief minister, who belongs to the Congress, in the wake of a fatal naxal attack on a BJP MLA?," questionned Tawde.

The BJP leader further said that Pawar had supported the Congress' poll promise of revoking sedition law, which could benefit naxals.

"The Congress party in its manifesto has already promised of striking down sedition law, which could benefit naxalites, and Pawar has supported it. Is it the reason that Pawar is demanding resignation of a BJP CM (Fadnavis)," wondered Tawde.